LAHORE, July 28: The National Database and Registration Authority’s hi-tech “VERISYS and BIOSYS” System is being inaugurated on Tuesday.

A news release issued by Nadra said the new system would facilitate verification of individuals holding computerized national ID cards. “This online system, being introduced in Pakistan for the first time, is proposed to be offered to the banks and financial institutions,” it said.

The system would be helpful for the financial institutions as before undertaking any business activity it would provide them access to information about the person’s credibility for loans on the basis of his property, assets, marital status, children, vocation, etc. Nadra said the financial institutions would be provided with a dial-up connectivity system for instant access to the required data under this verification system.

At present Nadra has 122 high-tech swift registration centres throughout Pakistan that are linked to the main database in Islamabad backed by both terrestrial and satellite communication infrastructure. Small databases at Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Multan, Sargodha, Lahore and Peshawar have also been set up to serve the customers’ requirement.

Nadra’s data warehouse currently has a data of 50 million citizens, including those below 18 years. It has so far received about 30 million applications for the issuance of computerized identity cards.

Nadra’s Biometric Identification System (BIOSYS) can be used for any transaction where identification of a person is required to be established before handing over any valuable to that person.

Due to the authenticity of Nadra’s data, the macro and micro level planning and decision making would become easier and within the reach of executives as well as planners, the press release said.

The system will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal at a seminar where central bank Governor Dr Ishrat Husain will deliver his key-note address.